Richards Bay snake fundi dies

LEGENDARY Richards Bay snake catcher, Piet ‘Slang’ Fourie (62), passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, 20 February after suffering a heart attack.

Piet, who with his beloved wife Anna has lived in the town since 1981, soon became interested in the large number and variety of snakes in the area.

He quickly became the ‘go to’ man for the Fire Department and private residents needing a dangerous snake removed from homes or gardens.

Piet ran the Waterfront Snake Park from around 1995 to 1997, when he was bitten by a night adder and was close to death.

This was one of numerous bites he suffered over time, having been the victim of puff adders, stilettos and Mozambique spitting cobras, among others, and having been operated on most fingers of both hands.

Piet retired from Portnet due to ill health in 1996 and had been keeping himself busy with temporary work as he could not sit at home doing nothing.

After a back operation in 2008 he tried to keep away from snakes as he was not fast enough to stay out of harm’s way.

Anna is grateful to Dr Watson and the Caredoc Centre staff, Netcare 911 ambulance service, and the Department of Home Affairs in the sympathetic and professional manner they assisted with regard to Piet’s unexpected passing.

He will be cremated privately and family and close friends will attend a ceremony to scatter his ashes at a convenient time still to be decided.